Labour is under pressure to launch a “buy British” campaign in response to US tariffs. The Liberal Democrats will push for a vote in the Commons this week demanding an advertising drive for homemade products.
The party’s trade spokesman Clive Jones, said: “The Government now needs to put its money where its mouth is, back our amendment and back British businesses. Our high street and other local businesses are really worried about the impacts of Donald Trump’s incoherent economic policy so the Government needs to be doing all it can to support them.
“That should start by voting for our Buy British campaign to champion these local companies, giving everyone the opportunity to stand up to Trump’s bullying, as part of a broader effort to work with our Commonwealth and European allies to create an economic coalition of the willing to bring this trade war to an end.
“This should be an easy decision for the Government: it is up to them to show businesses that they stand with them in not taking Trump’s tariffs lying down.”
The Lib Dems are looking to force a vote on an amendment to the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill.
It comes as the Daily Express has been vociferous on the issue with our It’s Time to Buy British crusade.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves in April rejected calls for the Government to launch a “buy British” campaign as she warned of the risk of the UK becoming “inward-looking”.
She said: “In terms of buying British, I think everyone will make their own decisions.
“What we don’t want to see is a trade war, with Britain becoming inward-looking, because if every country in the world decided that they only wanted to buy things produced in their country, that is not a good way forward.”
A Government spokesperson said: “British businesses make some of the best goods and produce in the world and that’s why we’re backing them to sell more abroad via our recent deals with the US, EU and India, and via our GREAT campaign.
“We’re also backing British business through our Plan for Change, which includes tackling the scourge of late payments and introducing a fairer business rates system which incentivises investment and we will publish our plan to help small businesses start up and grow later this year.”
